A Guide to Supporting Black Youth in Therapy

A young black girl stand in the center of the photo with her head down while two people outside the shot are showing hands fussing at her. This symbolizes the stressors that black youth face daily and the need for therapy.

Black youth face many challenges that affect their mental health and well-being, such as racism, discrimination, poverty, and trauma. Despite this problem, they are less likely to receive adequate and culturally responsive mental health care than their white peers. 

This unavailability of proper mental health care for black youth is due to the stigma in the community where therapy is considered a sign of weakness. It’s also due to the scarcity of black American therapists, with only 11% of counselors being black.

Fortunately, despite these obstacles, some black children and adolescents go to therapy, and in this case, they need sufficient support. Therefore, whether you’re a non-black therapist, parent, teacher, or even a black counselor, here’s how to support them in therapy.

Strategies for Working with Black Youth in Therapy

Therapy for black children and adolescents works differently compared to white adults; they’re more skeptical and more challenging to uncover, especially if you’re not the same race. On the other hand, as an adult trying to make a younger person open up, you’ll need a professional approach.

These techniques often include:

Building Trust and Rapport

Teacher works with student during piano lesson, representing building trust and rapport with black youth through shared interest. Black youth may have mistrust or fear of mental health professionals, especially if they are from a different racial or cultural background. In this case, building trust and rapport with them is essential for effective therapy. It can help them feel more comfortable, safe, and motivated to engage.

To achieve this goal, you must show genuine interest and empathy for their stories and feelings by listening attentively, asking open-ended questions, and reflecting on their emotions. You can deepen the connection through humor and storytelling to illustrate your points or relate to their situations.

However, be sure to avoid black stereotypes and assumptions by challenging your own biases, asking them about their cultural background and identity, and respecting their individuality.

Validate Their Experiences

Black youth often face daily stressors and challenges that are related to their racial identity, such as microaggressions, stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. These experiences can harm their self-esteem, which makes validating their experiences crucial for their mental health.

The first step to showing your acknowledgment would be learning about their history, traditions, values, and beliefs and respecting their preferences. Afterward, help them express their own culture and identity by providing a safe space for them to share their stories, opinions, and emotions.

These actions will help strengthen the trust you already built, allowing you to help them improve their mental health.

Incorporate Their Culture and Strengths 

Black people have a rich and diverse culture that can be a source of resilience, pride, and empowerment. Therefore, incorporating these factors into therapy can help them feel more connected and confident.

Use culturally appropriate interventions, such as Afrocentric, narrative, or solution-focused approaches. Feel free to integrate their spiritual, religious, or ancestral beliefs, but ensure it’s relevant to and appropriate for the adolescent.

Also, consider using culturally relevant materials to further connect, such as music and movies, to engage them in therapy.

Collaborate with Their Loved Ones

Consider involving their parents, caregivers, or other significant adults in therapy by inviting them to participate in the sessions. Also, keep these guardians informed on the adolescent’s progress in treatment. 

Young black girl works with mother to put together a bouqet of flowers. This represents the techniques learned while visiting an african american therapist in huntsville alabama.

You can also include other professionals, such as teachers or religious leaders, who may positively influence their lives. This collaboration helps you receive feedback on the needs and strengths to aid them further.

However, approach these collaborations carefully as there’s a stigma for therapy in the black community. Therefore, ensure the adolescent is comfortable with you communicating with others about their mental health problems.

Provide Culturally Competent Care

One of the critical aspects of supporting Black adolescents in therapy is to provide them with culturally competent and evidence-based interventions. In other words, how you care for the young adult should be based on sound research and tailored to their needs.

Some examples of culturally competent and evidence-based interventions are:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Trauma-focused CBT
  • Interpersonal psychotherapy
  • Motivational interviewing
  • Family therapy

These interventions can help Black youth cope with depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse, etc., which directly enhances their self-esteem, academic performance, and social skills.

Alongside providing this appropriate care, monitor and evaluate their progress and seek feedback from them and their families. This approach can help verify whether the interventions are working or need adjustments. 

Depressed african american teenage boy holding his head in his hands shows the need to connect with an african american therapist in alabama.

 

Why Black Youth Need Proper Mental Health Care

Black adolescents often face complex challenges that affect their mental health, such as discrimination, violence, trauma, poverty, and academic stress. These challenges can have negative impacts on their self-esteem and performance and increase their risk of depression or substance abuse.

 

However, with proper mental health care, these black adolescents can better heal from their challenges and enhance their resilience. It can also help them develop a positive and realistic self-image and appreciate their uniqueness. 

Proper mental health care also helps them build healthy relationships with their peers and adequately manage their academic stress. Once implemented, one can expect more optimism in their willingness to grow and achieve their potential and goals.

Connect With Us to Learn More

african american teen and adult woman sip water while having a conversation. This shows the comfort provided to the black youth by african american therapists in huntsville. Ultimately, black youth need proper mental health care to succeed in their journey; however, the scarcity of African American therapists makes this requirement tricky. However, following my recommendations in this content may be sufficient in providing adequate mental care for black adolescents.

Whether you’re a teacher, non-black counselor, parent, or even a fellow black therapist, following the tips here should help young adults open up and handle their stressors.

If you need a more personalized approach from an expert black therapist, consider contacting Aspire Counselling. We leverage years of experience and evidence-based interventions to ensure your adolescent better handle their stressors.

Contact Aspire Counseling today!

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1955 Rideout Dr. Ste 400
Huntsville, AL 35806

choya_w@aspirecounselingal.com
(256) 212-0567


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